Shoe rack



July 1, 1930. f

J. s. HOFFMIRE SHOE RACK Filed May 14, 192s 2 sheets-Sheesh l www i s/ 1 //....u.Y

nucwfoz July l, 1930. J. s. HoFFMlRE SHOE RACK Filed May 14, 1928 .2 Sheets-sheen 2 Patented July 1, 1930 Y Y UNrr vrs SHOE RACK Appiication mea May 14,

This invention relates to certain improvements in shoe racks; and the nature and objects of the invention rwill be readily recognized and understood by those skilled in the arts involved in the light of the following explanation and detailed description of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I at present consider to be the preferred embodimentsor mechanical expressions of my invention from among various other forms, arrangements, combinations, and constructions of which the invention is capable within the spirit and the scope thereof.

Shoe racks of the type with fwhich the. present invention deals are employed in-shoe factories for transporting shoes from` one place or machine and shoe making operation to another and for holding unfinished shoes between operations in the process of manufacturing shoes, as well as fortransporting the finished shoe to and for storing or holding the same at the point of packing for shipment. Such shoe racks are generally characterized by rows ,of spacedvpins or paddles on and between which the'shoesare supported and held so as tobe out of contact or engagement withv each other, therows of pins or paddles providing a series ofhorizontally disposed and vertically spaced shelves in each rack. V' y v f Y Certain serious problems and difiiculties are presented to the shoe manufacturer by these shoe racks. Amongthe major problems may be mentioned the following; the large amount of space'required in a factory by the racks due to the number thereof necessary to handle the shoes going through the process of manufacture and to hold and store the finished shoes, and the further fact that different types of racksare frequently used in the handling of shoes at different* stages in the process of manufacture; the initial cost of the racks and lthe cost ofrepairs and replacements resulting from 'breakage of the raclrs in use; the lossof shoesdam'- aged through improper contact or engagement with portions and unprotected parts of the raclrs and through contact or striking with other racks or structures adjacent thereto or in collision therewith; andin the re- 1928. seriai Nq; 277,697.k

tarding or slowing up of production, as well as the lowering of the quality and workmanship of the shoes, resulting from'the difliculty encountered bythe operatorsy in removing thepropershoes froml and inreplacing the yshoes in their proper positions on the racks, in the performing of the necessary shoe'm'alring operations onfthe shoes as they pass through ythe vfactory on the racks from operation to operation. Y y f The desirability of sending shoes through the process vofjmanufacture inl pairs and of maintaining the shoes of a pair together throughthe various steps, has been established, particularly for the higher grades of shoes.v But experience has shown that with theracks now in use in shoe factories, and under the methods of racking and arrangingV the shoes as practiced and permitted by the designs of such racks, theracking of shoes in pairs causes; considerable confusion and loss of 'time onthe part of operatorsin selecting the proper shoes from the racks and'inV replacing lthe shoes operated on so as to'inaintain the shoes of a pair together, .with the resulting'increase in mismated and unmatched pairs of shoes.-v A further difficulty arises with these lshoe racks in en-k deavoring to maintain the lengthV and width thereof to a minimum, while providing for the desired'v racking *arrangement of the shoes,'size ofthe racks beingv a'vital consideration vbecause of the large numbers required by a factory so that vanyv saving in length or width onveachl rack means a large factory spaceV saving lin the aggregate, as will be' readily recognized by anyonefamiliarwith shoe racks and their'operatio'n and use. A

A main characteristic and object of the present invention resides vinaV design, arrangement and construction'of shoe rack ranged in such a mannerl as to'render it particularly easy V'for the operatorsl to remove and replace the same for work thereon without confusion or loss of time, and to permit of kkeeping the shoes in pairs throughout they process of manufacture without mismating or 'mixing the shoes o'fa pair, while retainon which the shoes -v can be racked and ar-A ico is found in the design and arrangement of the shoe supporting pins or paddles forming the rack shelves, by which Valternate shelves are designed to support either allv right shoes or all left shoes, so that the shoes Vare racked and supported in pairswith"V the shoes of each pair vertically spaced and positioned one above the other, thus enabling an operator to set a machine for work on lefts or on rights and complete the operation on all the shoes of one shelf before changing over the machine, while being enabled to readily return the shoes to proper places in the rack maintained in pairs; and further to so design and mount the paddles or pins of each shelf that the shoes are supported out of contact, but the shelf can be made of a minimum length to thereby permit the production of a racl: of smaller dimensions to occupy a minimum of factory space in use. v Y

Shoe racks in use in a factory are subj ected to hard usage occasioned by frequent collisions between racks, with adjacent struetures and machines, and through handling in moving them from place to place, yet the shoes supported thereon must be protected `not only from engagement V with adjacent structures but with damaging portions of the raclr itself, to maintain loss from ruined shoes to a minimum. A further aim and object of the invention is the provision of a rack Vwhich is of simple relatively inexpensive construction but which is durableV in use with a minimum possibility of breakage which provides protection at all times for the shoes from adjacent structures, and is so designed that in placingv shoes'thereon and removing them therefrom, the shoes cannot come in contact with portions of the rack structure capable of injuring them; and further to provide such a rack which is of relatively light weight and so designed as to be readily handled in pushing the same from place to place. Y

Another object of the invention is to pro- Y vide a design and constructioniof shoe rack so arranged and mounted on the metal frame as to eliminate the possibility of the shoes being injuredv by contact or engagement with the metal structure in placing shoes in and removing them from the rack.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate the necessity in a shoe factory for dif- Vferent types of raclrs for transporting un-` finished shoes through the process of manufacture, and for holding and transporting nished. shoes, through the provision of an all-purpose shoe rack adapted for holding unfinished shoes in the required positions, as well as for holding the Vfinished shoes in the desired sole downward positions. Y Y

Vith :the foregoing general objects and characteristics in view, as well as certain others which will be readily apparent from the following description, the invention consists Vin certain novel features in construction and in the combinations and arrangements of the parts and elements of the shoe racks, as will be more fully and particularly referred to and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several figures thereof:

Fig. l, isa perspective view of a Vshoe rack embodying the several features of the invention, and showing several pair-sl of shoes in different positions supported/thereon and therein, in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2, is a top plan view of the shoe supporting paddles forming a shelf of the rack for receiving and supporting right shoes, portions of the metal rack frame being shown in horizontal" section.

Fig. 3, is a view of a portion of the shoe rack showing portions of adjacent shelves, one in vertical section and the other in front elevation.

being broken away and shown in vertical section.

A shoe rack of the twelve pair, vflatpin or' paddle type, `embodying the features of design, arrangement, and construction of the invention, is disclosed in t'ie accompanying drawings and described herein purely by way of example and not of limitation, for the purpose of explaining the invention to enable thosevslrilled in thev art to under-` stand the same. `The several features of the invention are not restricted to the particular type or capacity of shoe racl shown, or limited to the specific Amechanical eX- pressions thereof, but are of general adaptation and use to and in shoe raclrsrof various other types, and the invention contemplates and includes such other adaptations and forms, it being understood that the pres-v innesta.y

ent disclosure is to be so interpreted and read.

In the illustrated example, referring now toll` ig. 1, of the drawings in particular, the shoe rack includes a main frame of metal,

preferably of the angle iron type, which con` sists of the base 10 and the vertical end members or posts 11 extending upwardly therefrom at opposite `ends and adjacent one side (the rear) thereof. The base 10 of the c rack frame is, in the example hereof recthe base 10, asl will be clear byv reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings. The frame base 10, so formed and constructed is provided with the usual or any suitablev castersor the like 17 supporting the base and by which the rack can be readily rolled andsteered from place to place, inthe usual manner.

In accordance with a feature of the in- V'ention, the vertical end members or posts 11 are bolted or otherwise secured to and on the opposite end bars 14 of base' 10, re*- spectively, adjacent one side bar 12 (the rear bar) thereof, so that Athese Vertical members extend upwardly. from opposite ends and at one side (the rear) of the frame base, thus leaving the space upwardly from:

the major portion of thebase, and forwardly from members 11, unobstructed thereby. Each of the vertical frame end members or posts 11, is formed of a metal angle bar but with the flange 18 thereof, of a greater width than the flange 19'. The vertical members or posts 11,'of such angle form, are bolted at their lower ends through the wide flange 1S to the inner sides of the Vertical flanges of the opposite endV bar 14,

vof base 10, withthe posts 11 resting on the horizontal flanges of these end bars and the wide flanges 18 extending forwardly of the base substantially parallel with-end bars 14, while the narrow flanges 19, extend inwardly toward leach other along the adjacent side or rear bar 12 of base 10. These vertical frame members or posts 11, are braced atv their lower ends by the diagonal braces 11, extending forwardly to the base end bars 14, and inwardly to the adjacent' rear side bar 12. VThe main frame of metal for the rack, thus provides the base 10, and

, therethrough,

vabove the innerends of each of the horizontally alined pairs of the supporting brackets Vbolts 26 extending therethrough.

and secured thereon f extending upwardly fromy and along one side of the base and the wide flanges 18 of which strengthenthe same in the necessary direction, as clearly illustrated yby Fig. 1 of the drawings. Y

The verticalframe members or posts' 11 have the shoe supporting shelves disposed horizontally therebetween and supported and secured thereon, and in the particular example of the invention here disclosed, each member-or post 11, hasfa seriesfof vertically spaced shelf' or paddlereceiving and sup-*l porting brackets 20 securedfthereon and horizontally disposed extending forwardly therefrom. The brackets A20 are inclined upwardly and forwardly fromposts 11, and the brackets of each post are in yhorizontal alinement with the corresponding brackets of the other post. Eachl bracket 20 is in this instance formed of a metal angle member having the flanges 21 and 22, referring now to Figs. 2,3 and 4 of the drawings in particular, and is secured to and 4extending* transversely of and forwardly from the wide flange 18 of a side member or post 11,

by the bolts 23 through the vertical flangel 21 of the bracket and post flange 18. In secured position the flange 22 of each bracket .y

is horizontally disposed and extends inwardly from the post 11-. In Lorder to strengthen and brace the vertical frame members yor posts 11, and furtherto provide in effect a guard along the inner side 'of each shoe sup porting shelf structure, a wooden cross rail'y and brace 24, is bolted across and between the posts 11 at the rear or outer side of flanges 19 thereof, by the bolts 24 extending disposed horizontally and 20 (see'Fig. 1).

The type of shoe rack here disclosed as an example, lis designed to receive and support twelve pairs of shoes, and four pairs of the brackets 20 are provided on the frame end posts 11, for mounting and supporting four shoe'supporting shelf structures vertically spaced and horizontally disposed extending between and across these frame end members or posts 11. Each shelf structure includes a paddle bar 25, Vpreferably as in the presentinstance formed of a suitable wood, of-a generally rectangular cross section, al-

though not so limited, extending between a pair of the brackets 20 with the ends thereof secured to and against ythe under sides of the horizontal flanges 22 of the brackets and rigidly bolted thereto by means of the spaced dle bars 25are thus bolted to and disposed beneath vbrackets 20, with the upper 'p side of each bar'disposedL atl an upward and outthey are respectivelyl bolted. Inv the pres-- l'ent example, the upper Vsides of the paddle bar ends are recessed to receive the bracket flanges 22 and dispose the upper surface of each bar between the brackets flush with `the upper faces of the bracket flanges 22, as clearly shown by Fig of the drawings in particular. j

Oneach paddle bar 25 and its supporting brackets 20, a series of spaced intermediate shoe supporting paddles 27 and end paddles 28, all formed of wood or other material which will notV damage shoes in contact therewith, are mounted between the frame end posts 1l and extended outwardly and forwardly from and transversely of the bars 25. These shoe supporting paddles 27 and 28 are formed of an elongated generally rectangular form, and the end paddles 28 are of a considerably less width than paddles 27, for a purpose referred to hereinafter. The end paddles 28 of each shelf structure are mounted with their outer side portions received and supported on the brackets 20, re-

lspectively, with the horizontal flanges 22 supporting the same and the outer edges of the paddles against the vertical flanges 21 of the brackets (see Figs. 2 and 3). The inner or base ends of the end paddles 28 are Asecured to the brackets and the paddle bar 25, by the bolts 26, which are extended upwardly therethrough. The outer end lengths of paddles 28 are secured to the bracket vertical flanges 2l by means of screws or the like 29, so that these end paddles are securely and rigidly fastened in position on and supported by the brackets 2O and the paddle bar 25.

The intermediate paddles 27 are secured on and to each paddle bar 25 between the end paddles 28, spaced therefrom and from each other to provide the shoe receiving spaces 80 therebetween, by the bolts 31 extended` through the base ends of the paddles and bar 25, and the screws 32 (see Fig. 2) extended downwardly therethrough into the paddle bar 25. In order to provide a `substantially smooth, and continuous surface over and along the base ends of paddles 27 and 28, filler blocks 33 are secured by screws or the like onto the bar 25 in the spaces be,- tween the paddles, which filler blocks are of a width not exceeding that of the'bar 25. Thus, each shelf structure provides and includes the series of spaced shoe receiving and supporting paddles 27 and 28 fixed to and extending forwardly from the paddle bar 25 over and above the frame hase 10, but of a length not to extend beyond the base, and given an upward and forward or outer inclination by the bar 25 and brackets 20, on the frame end posts ll.

Each vertically alined series of end paddles 28 and brackets 20, carried by Va frame end member l1, is provided with av vertically disposed rod or dowel member Sil, preferably of wood, extending upwardly therethrough to and a distance above the upper end ,paddie, the rod extending through the paddles and the horizontal flanges 22 of brackets 20, adjacent the outer free ends of such flanges, as will be clear byv reference to Figs-1'- and 4. These end paddle connecting rods Bil` additionally brace and strengthen the end paddles and brackets, and serve to prevent displacement of the shoes from the rack under certain positions of shoe mounting, as well as performingcertain other functions hereinafter referred to.V

A movable and adjustable toe supporting bar or rest 35, is normally supported on andacross the inner ends ofthe paddles 27 and 28 of each shelf structure, between and confined against longitudinal displacement by the vertical flanges 2l of the brackets 2O (see Fig. 2). Wooden or the like material blocks 36 are fixed over the base ends of each end paddle 28 to cover and. protect the projecting ends Vof bolts 26, and provide stops or abutmen'ts against which the ends of the toe rests bear and by which these rests are positioned. rlhe toe rests 35 are preferably rounded on their upper sides and if desired can be covered with a suitablesoftor protective covering, and provide a support for the toesof shoes supported between the paddles with their soles upward, asV will be later explained. 'lhese toe rests 35 are removable from thev normal positionv above described, to a position across the outer end lengths of the shoe supporting paddles forward of and positioned against the vertical rods 34, as shown by the bottom shelf structure in Figs. 1 and a. ln this position rests 35 serve to retain shoes in proper Vposition on the paddles sole downward, while the rods 34 serve the additional purpose of oreventinof dis )lacement of shoes so su ported endwise of the shelf structure, as well as protecting the end shoes from contact with objects adjacent the ends of the rack.

In accordance with a main and basic feature and principle of the invention, the shoe supporting paddles 2T- 28, are designed, constructed and mounted to permit the racking of lall and only right shoes or all left shoes` on each shelf structure, Vand to arrange the adjacent shelf structures to cooperate in enabling the racking of shoes in pairs so thatoperators can maintain the shoes of a pair together throughout the process of manufacture. The shoe supporting paddles 27-28 of each shelf structure are beveled or rounded at 27a (see 2) on their adjacent and facing edges, and are formed of a minimum width and spacing to permit of supporting shoes, such as R and L in Fig. 1 therebetween with their soles upward, but adjacent shoes out of contact.

The paddles 27-28 of shelf are formed with Y straight. This construction of the paddles provides for receiving a' shoe in the space 3() and the concavity 27b between adjacent paddles and Aconforms to the shape of4 the shoe so as to cradle and hold the same in proper position against displacement. A,

- With the upper shelf of the rack, referring to Fig. 2, the paddles thereof each have their right hand edge concaved (when facing the rack from the front thereof) and due to the minimum spacing, such construction and arrangement will permit of receiving onlyright shoes R between the paddles,

dueto the shape of such shoes, as will be readily understood. I Now, theshelf structure next below the top shelf structureV of the.rackhas the paddles 27-28 .each concaved at27?, along the opposite edges of the paddles withv respect to the concavities 271 of the paddlesnext thereabove, so that the paddles having concavities 27 c will only re- Y ceive and rack left shoes L. Thus, con'- sidering the two upper shelf structures, the top one thereof racks all right shoes and vthe lowerone all left shoes, with the right and left shoes, R and L, of eachpair arranged on the rack in vertical alinement one above the other. Thisenables the operators to first perform'the operations on all the right shoes along the top row without changing the machine, and then perform the operations .on the left shoes, or vice versa, and to remove and replace the shoes in `their proper positions to keep the pairs together with difficulty or confusion and in av minimum of time.

In the rack of the present example, the four shelf structures have .thepaddles- 27-28 thereof arranged alternately for right shoes and left shoes, as indicated by the legends in Fig. l, and the racking of theshoes in the two lower shelf structures is the same as that described with respect to the uppermost ones. The arrangement allows anloperator to set up his machine for all the twelve pairs of shoes, or whatever the capacityp'ofl the rack, and to then take the shoes for operation without shifting around and selecting- Ving and replacingthe same in their proper positions in the rack, without delay orfconfusion and with the assurance of maintain-' ingthe shoes together in pairs. f .A o By the design, construetion'and.mounting of the shoe supportingpaddles yto obtainothe This gives a saving in rack length and with the large number of racks required by a factory, obtains a material saving in valuable factory space.

A. rack of the invention not only is designed and adapted for receiving and transporting unfinished shoes, but is also capable of ready conversion for vreceiving and "holding finished shoes. Referring to the lowermost shelf structure of Figs. l and t, to convert the same for finished shoes, the toe rest 35 is moved to positionacross the paddles 27--28, forward of and against the vertical rods 35,`and a cover of `cloth or othersoft, non-marring materialv 40 is Vthen placed over and covering the paddles and rest 35. Finished shoes, as L and R, can then be placed Y thereon sole downward and heelv outward land forward of 'rest 35, Vwith this rest eX- by engaging the heels maintain the shoes in position. Shoes so mounted on ythe rack are maintained against displacement from the end-s of the shelf structure by the protecting and guarding vertical-rods 35. The rack is in effect an all-purpose structure and eliminates the requirement of different types of racks for handling the finished shoes.

The `design of the metal main frame of the yrack is such that a minimum of metal and weight is called for, yet the high strength and durability required `o f these racks is embodied therein. The metal parts ofthe frame are-so'positioned, to the rear of paddles and shoes thereon, with respect to the wood and shoe. contacting parts of the rack that the possibility of shoes striking the metal and being damaged thereby is eliminated,yet the metal frame is located Vto receiveV and absorb the blows and shocks of collision or contact with structures adjacent the rack, and to thereby protect the wooden portions of the `rack from damage. The

metal framebasefis of such dimensions as to permit'of locating the paddles thereabove but-within the area defined thereby, and is constructed to provide a support for articles which it may be desired Vto carry withr the, rack. The paddle mounting is such that a high factor of safety against breakage or failure is inherent in the structure and enables these paddles to bear .large yweights and i receive'hard blows `without breakage, thus eliminating the considerable expense of repair and maintenance for these racks.

Itis also evident that various changes,v

ledge of one paddle and concaved edge of the opposite paddle to receive and conform to only either right shoes or left shoes.V

2. In a shoe rack, the combination of substantially horizontal disposed vertically spaced shoe supporting shelf structures each embodying a seriesof 4substantially ,horizontally disposed andL Vspaced vpaddles for supporting shoes thereon and therebetween sole upward with adjacent shoes out of contact, the supporting paddles one shelf structure each havinga longitudinal edge concaved and the opposite edge substantially straight to form a space therebetween conformingV to and receiving only right shoes supported on said paddles, andthe supporting paddlesV of the adjacent shelf structure vertically alined with said other shelf structure paddles and each having the opposite longitudinal edge concaved opposite to that of the paddles in the adjacentv shelf structure, so as to receive and conform to only left shoes, the arrangement being such that shoes are racked on said adjacent shelfstruc- Vtures in vertically alinedpairs.

3'. In a shoe rack, a metal frame including vertically disposed and spaced lframe members formed of angle irons, bracket members secured to said Vend members extending substantially transversely thereof and horizontally from one side thereof,said brackets verticallyspaced on the end members and the brackets ofone e'ndmember in horizontal alinement with'those of the opposite end member, a paddle supporting bar secured across and between ,each pair of alined bracket members, randshoe supporting paddles secured at their inner ends to and at spacedintervals along eachpaddle Y bar, with said'paddles extending substantially horizontally Vand outwardly from said bar.

et. In a shoe rack vertically disposedV opposite end frame members each comprising a metal angle bar, a bracket member comi prising an angle bar secured by itsvertical ange to each :of said frame end members extending outwardly and substantially horizontally therefrom with its .horizontal flange extending inwardly from saidv end member, the said bracket members mounted on said end members in horizontal. alinement, a paddle 'supporting bar extending across and between said bracket members and secured at the under sides of the horikzontal flanges of said bracket members, a '7'5 series of spaced shoe supporting paddles secured at spaced intervals to and' along said paddlebarand extending outwardly therefrom, and the end paddles .secured to and received in said bracket members.

5. In a shoe rack, a frame including vertically disposed and spacedend members,

vertically spaced horizontally disposed shelf j structures extending between and supported by said frame end members, each shelf structure including aseries of horizontally-disf posed and spaced shoe supporting paddles extending outwardly'from said end members, and vertically disposed rods extending through Vand connecting the end shoe supporting paddles of each shelf structure.

6. In a shoe rack, spaced vertically dis-l posed frame end members, horizontally disposed and vertically spaced shelf structures extending between and supported on said end posts, each shelf structure including a series ofhorizontally disposed spaced shoe supporting paddles, a rod vertically disposed and extending transversely through thevertically alined end paddles of the shelf structuresV adjacent theouter ends of such paddles, and a movable toe 'rest mounted extending across the inner ends of the shoe supporting paddles of each shelf structure,

and said toe rest movable'to position across the outer ends of the Vpaddles of eachk shelf structure, forwardly of and positioned by said endpaddle connecting rods.

ico

7.Y In Y, a shoe. rack,V a frame including A spaced vertically V,disposed end posts each formed of a metal jangle bar, ai, bracket formedofa metal angle bolted, byjits fverticalY flange to a flange of each end post and lio disposed in substantially -h'orizontalposition j extending outwardly thereform, said brackets in'` horizontal alinement with theirl hori- 'zontal anges disposed inwardly toward each other, a paddle bar bolted atits opposite ends tothe under side of thehorizontal flangesof said brackets between said end posts.I a series of spaced shoe supporting paddles bolted at their inner ends' alongsaid paddle bar and extending outwardly therefrom *in substantially f horizontal` position,

and the opposite end paddles receivedin said brackets and mounted on the` horizontal Vflanges thereof and secured at their inner ends to said--brackets andthe paddle'bar by the paddle bar securingbolts.' f' u 8. In a shoe rack, a mainframe Of metal embodying a substantially rectangular and horizontal base, with vertically disposed, spaced end members each comprising an angle bar secured to opposite ends kof said base adjacent one side thereof, each of said end members having one flange of extended width and these flanges disposed parallel bers, a paddle bar extending between thev '15 inner ends of said bracket members and and extendingtoward the opposite side of said base, bracket members each comprising a metal angleV bar secured to the parallel y extended flanges of said end members, respectively, and extending substantially horizontally and outwardly from said endmeml lspaced end posts secured to said opposite end members of the base adjacent one ofthe base side members, each of said posts comprising a metal angle having one flange thereof wider than the other flange, the said posts secured to said base end members by Y l said wider flange which extendsy therealong toward the opposite side member of the base, a bracket formed of a metal angle bolted by its vertical flange to the wider flange of each end post and disposed in substantially horizontal position extending outwardly therefrom with its horizontal flange lowermost, said brackets in horizontal alinement f with their horizontal flanges disposed inwardly toward each other, a paddle bar bolted at its opposite ends to the underside Y of the horizontal flanges of said brackets between said end posts, a series of spaced shoe supporting paddles bolted at their inner ends along said paddle bar and extending outwardly therefrom in substantially horizontal position above and across said base but within the vertical confines thereof, and the opposite end paddles received in said brackets, respectively, and mounted on the upper sidek ofthe horizontal flanges thereof and securedA at their inner ends to said brackets and the paddle bar by thev kpaddle bar securing bolts.

Signed at Auburn, New day'of May, 1928.

JOHN HOFFMIRE.

York, vthis 10th 

